Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.
Latest articles by Philip Michaels

Galaxy S25 hits stores this Friday — here's the first feature I'm going to try
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S25 lineup introduces many features, but cross app actions powered by Galaxy AI is the one that interests me the most.

iOS 18.3 proves Apple Intelligence is far from finished
By Philip Michaels published
The Apple Intelligence rollout continues, even if iOS 18.3 enables AI tools by default now. And Siri updates are the big missing piece of the puzzle.

Apple's likely to release lots of iPhones this year — which one should you plan to get?
By Philip Michaels published
With an iPhone SE 4 launch expected in the spring and this year's iPhone 17 updates likely to happen in the fall, it's time to start thinking about which iPhone you''re going to upgrade to.

Apple says the iPhone 16 is selling well and Apple Intelligence is a big reason why
By Philip Michaels published
iPhone sales may have been flat during the holiday quarter, but Apple says the iPhone 16 is performing better than the iPhone 15 did. And Apple Intelligence is apparently a big reason why.

I tested Motorola’s new budget phone and I'm surprised by what you get for less than $200
By Philip Michaels published
The Moto G (2025) is the latest version of Motorola's budget phone. It delivers the long-lasting battery life of previous versions while making unexpected improvements in other areas.

I left my OnePlus 13R alone for a week — and I was shocked at what happened when I returned
By Philip Michaels published
I knew that the OnePlus 13R lasted a long time on a charge based on the Tom's Guide battery test. But I found out exactly how long just the other day.

Samsung Galaxy S25 — 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip
By Philip Michaels published
Is Samsung's premium phone a good fit for your needs?

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge — I've got 7 big questions about this super hyped phone
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung has told us that it's working on a Galaxy S25 Edge, but we don't know much else about the phone. Here's what I'm hoping to figure out before the S25 Edge arrives.

Samsung Galaxy S25 — here’s the AI features that could make you upgrade
By Philip Michaels last updated
Several Galaxy AI improvements could bring more personalized features to the Galaxy S25 phones. But will it work will enough to overcome skepticism about mobile AI?

The Galaxy S25 series looks a lot better thanks to a change Samsung didn't make
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S25 has a lot in common with its predecessor, including the same price. And that will make a big difference to would-be upgraders.

Samsung Galaxy S25: 5 reasons to buy and 4 reasons to skip
By Philip Michaels published
Considering a Galaxy S25 purchase? Here's what to keep in mind, as we go over what we like and what we don't about Samsung's latest flagship.

The best 5G phones in 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best 5G phones deliver faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more. Here are the 5G-capable phones worth your attention.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Official date, Samsung Galaxy S25 launch plans and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
Samsung will hold its first big product launch of the year in a matter of days. Here's when Galaxy Unpacked 2025 will happen and what we expect to see.

Thinking about buying an iPhone SE? That would be a big mistake
By Philip Michaels published
With the current iPhone SE in short supply, you may feel the pressure to pick up the least expensive iPhone model. But you're better off waiting a few months. Here's why.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Which will be the best Android phone of 2025?
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Samsung Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 figure to be two of the biggest Android devices to come out this year. Our Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13 comparison looks at how the phones potentially stack up.

I shot 200 photos with the OnePlus 13R and Google Pixel 8a — here's the best cheap camera phone
By Philip Michaels published
You don't have to pay big bucks to get great photos, as both the OnePlus 13R and Pixel 8a prove. But which camera phone is the better buy? We took 200 photos to find out.

Galaxy S25 AI features — I asked the Tom's Guide staff what they want to see
By Philip Michaels published
Galaxy AI will be the focus when Samsung introduces its new Galaxy S25 phones. But which features should be a part of this update? We've got a few ideas.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Unpacked event: 5 biggest unanswered questions
By Philip Michaels last updated
With Galaxy Unpacked getting underway on January 22, Samsung will fill in the missing details about its upcoming Galaxy S25 phones. These are the 5 biggest questions we have ahead of the event.

The iPhone SE 4 is going to be Apple's most exciting phone release this year — here's why
By Philip Michaels published
The iPhone SE 4 will reportedly introduce a lot of welcome changes should it arrive as expected in a few months. That would make this phone Apple's most significant release all year.

Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra battery and charging rumors — what you need to know
By Philip Michaels published
Here's what we've heard about the battery and charging speed changes tipped for all three of Samsung's Galaxy S25 models ahead of their likely launch this month.

iPhone Flip: Has Apple already missed its moment to make a foldable phone?
By Philip Michaels published
A new report has a foldable iPhone in development. But with reports that demand is dropping for foldables, will it be too late for Apple to come out with an iPhone Flip?

I put OnePlus 13R vs Google Pixel 8a through a 7-round face-off — here's the winner
By Philip Michaels last updated
Can OnePlus topple Google?

OnePlus 13R review: A flagship phone in every way but price
By Philip Michaels last updated
Improve cameras, better battery life — so what's the catch?

OnePlus 13R is proof you never need to spend big on a flagship again — here's why
By Philip Michaels last updated
Midrange phones like the OnePlus 13R are making fewer trade-offs while offering lower prices than their flagship counterparts.

It’s almost time for a Galaxy S25 upgrade decision — here’s where I’m leaning after this week's leaks
By Philip Michaels published
With Galaxy Unpacked a little more than a week away, it's nearly time to decide whether to upgrade to a new Galaxy S25. The latest revelations about the phone are helping clarify that decision.
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